Radio ground position indicating device



Nov. 29, 1949 J. l.. ANAs'r l RADIO GROUND POSITION INDICATING DEVICE Filed Nov. 19, 1947 2 Shets-Sheet 1 Nov. 29, `1949 J. l.. ANAsT RADIO GROUND POSITION INDICATING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 1e, 1947 NMASWNN I N V EN TOR. /m/ff ,e7/V057 'Patented Nov. 29, 1949 James L. Anast, Xenia, Ohio Application November 19, 1947, Serial No. 786,941 12 claims. (Cl. 343-112) (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as

The invention described herein may be manul factured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without payment to me of any royalty thereon.

vehicles, etc., where it is impossible to determine ground position and direction by the natural senses.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a device for indicating the geographical postion of the device with respect to one or more known geographical points.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cathode ray tube receiver indicator device for pictorially indicating the position of the indiamended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) cator device with respect to radio transmitters. A further object of this invention is to provide a mobile vehicle radio receiver means including a cathode ray tube for producing intersecting traces an inverter tube I4. The output of the squaring amplifier means is connected to the inverter tube I4 which, as illustrated in Fig. 2, comprises coupling the plate of the squaring amplifier tube I3 by the conductor I5 through a capacitor I6 to the grid of the triode inverter tube I4. A centering circuit 2I which is connected to the squaring amplier and inverter circuit II, as shown in Fig. 2, consists of six diodes 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 and 21, and four potentiometers 28, 29, 3U and 3|.

This invention relates to wireless ground posi- 5 as aresult of signals received from at least two tion and course indicating apparatus for conradio transmitters to indicate the position of tinuously indicating the position and course of the mobile vehicle with respect to the radio transa movable vehicle with respect to at least two mitters. known transmitting radio stations. It is still another object of my invention to A number of wireless position and direction inl provide a mobile Vehicle position indicating redicating devices are known which utilize a cathceiver device in which the signals of at least two ode ray tube for producing a visual pattern on transmitters are received for effecting traces on a fluorescent screen from which the position of the face of a cathode ray tube establishing the the indicating device relative to known radio position of the transmitters and an intersecting transmitters can be determined. Where these del point indicative of the mobile vehicle relative to vices are wholly electronic, the electronic equipthe transmitters, the position indicating receiver ment becomes burdensome; and where mechandevice having self synchronous transmitter-reical means have been used to overcome the obceiver means cooperatively interconnecting rotatjections of a cumbersome amount of electronic able loop antennas and a flux gate compass with elements, there has entered the objectionable resweep coils on the cathode ray tube to eect comsults of mechanical resistance and mechanical pensation of directional change of the mobile inertia. vehicle.

The present invention contemplates simplify- Other objects and advantages will become more ing wireless position and direction nding deapparent as the description proceeds and taken vices by utilizing only a suicient amount of elecg5 in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, tronic elements to satisfactorily produce indicatin which: ing traces on a cathode ray tube in accordance Fig. 1 is a block diagram of the cathode ray with signals picked up from two radio transmittube circuit; ters and by using in combination therewith me- Fig. 2 is a circuit diagram of the combined chanical means having a negligible amount of cathode ray tube and sweep coil actuating re-y mechanical resistance or inertia losses to elect an ceiver system with'some elements shown in block efficient and accurate indicating result. These for simplicity; mechanical means" consist of self synchronous Fig. 3 is a view of the cathode ray tube face transmitter-receivers used in cooperation with with a transparent map thereon and traces as power motors to produce the mechanical motion may be expected upon operation of the tube; and required in the system. In this manner, the Fig. 4 iS a diagrammatial plan View 0f the power motors can be positioned and mechanicathode ray tube indicator unit. cally connected to the elements to be operated Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, there iS ShOWn to obtain the greatest efficiency. The errors of a block III for supplying alternating Current in the self synchronous system are so small as to 40 which, fOr the pnIDOSe 0f illustration and 00nbe negligible. The ground position indicating devenience in obtaining currents from conventional vices constructed of the elements in the manner, alternators, iS ShOWn aS a 115 V011?. 400 Cycle later to be more fully described, provides a simple, source. This current is Supplied to a squaring efficient, accurate and durable instrument that amplifier and inverter means II which consists may be adapted for use in aircraft, ships, motor 0f tWO liriOde Sqnaring ampliel' tubes l2, I3 and asoman The plate circuit of the triode I4 is coupled to the cathode of the diode 22 and to-one side of 'the potentiometers 28,l 38 through the capacitor 32. The lead I5 from the squaring amplifier triode tube I3 is also coupled through the capotential -is impressed on movable contacts 38,.

38 of the potentiometers 29, 3l.

A cathode ray tube 4I has deecting plates 42,

43 which are connected to the centering circuit 2i, the movable contacts 35, 38 being connected to the defiecting plate 43 through the respective isolating diodes 24, 25 while movable contacts 31, 38 are connected to the deectin'g plate 42 through the isolating diodes 26, 21. 'Ihe direct current circuits of diodes 24 and 25 and'diodes 26 and 21 .are completed through resistors 39 and 48 respectively. Defiecting plates 44, 45 are connected to the movable contact of a potentiometer 48 connected between B+ and ground for xing the potential of these plates above ground. The portion of the cathode ray tube containing the electron gun has not been shown or described herein since its function is well known and is not material to the present invention. In the absence of any potential on the deecting plates, the electron beam would strike the center of a fluorescent screen 41 of the cathode ray tube. By controlling potentiometers 28--3 I, the spot on the iluorescent screen 41 can be separated into two distinct spots,-

the position of one spot being controlled by the potentiometers 28, 30 and the position of the other spot being under the control of the potentiometers 29, 3l. However, with the' plates 44 and 45 at zero, or ground, potential the two spots could only be positioned in the first quadrant of the screen 41. But by adjusting the potentiometer 46, until the potential on plates 44 and 45 is approximately equal to one-half the maximum voltage applied to plates 42 and 43 from potentiometers 28-3|, each of the two spots may be positioned in any quadrant of the screen. In other words, the spot can be pulled to one position at any place on the screen 41 for one-half cycle ofthe input voltage and another spot can be positioned at any place on the screen 41 for the other half cycle of the input voltage by adjusting the potential on plates 42 and 43 with the respective pairs of potentiometers 2s, an and 29,31.

Thus it may be seen that by controlling the movable contacts 35, 31 one spot, for example,as shown by 5i on the face of the cathode ray tube in Fig. 3, can be positioned at any place on the face; while by controllingthe movable contacts 38, 38 the other spot, for example, as shown by 52 in Fig. 3, can be positioned at any place on the face. A transparent map, as shown by 48, may be placed on the face'41 of the cathode ray tube .which may represent the earth in the vicinity where the device is to be operated and the two spots 5| and 52 may be adjusted to the of .two known radio transmitter stations.

Referring again to Figs. 1 and 2, amplifier circuits 53 and 54 are shown as being connected through sweep coils 63 and 85, respectively, to B+ positions potential. The ampliner circuits include ampliiler tubes 55 and 58 which have their cathodes connected to ground throughbiasing resistors. The suppressor grid 51 of tube 55 is connected to the plate of the inverter triode tube I4 through condenser 49, and the suppressor'grid 59 of the tube 58 is connected to the plate of the squaring ampliiler tube' i3 through the condenser 34 wherein the conductivity of tubes 55 and 58 will be controlled by the grids 51fand 58 operating 180 degrees out of phase. The control grids 58' and 88 ofthe tubes 55 and 58 are connected respectively to thev opposite ends of a secondary winding, which is center tapped to ground, of a transformer 8| coupling the control grids59, 68 to the 115 volt. 400 cycle source such that these control grids have voltages impressed thereon 180 degrees out of phase. The anode 62 of the amplifier tube 55 is connected through a sweep coil 83 to B+ voltage, which sweep coil is constructed in two sections to produce a magnetic iield across the cathode ray tube. The anode 84 of the amplitier` tube 58 is connected to a sweep coil 85, also in two sections to produce a magnetic field across the cathode ray tube. In this manner, the grids 51 and 59 of the amplier tube 55 are in phase with each other but 180 degrees out of phase with the grids 58 and 80, also in phase with each other, of the amplifier tube '58, and vice versa. Also, since the same 115 volt, 400 cycle source supplies the above described circuit, the frequency of the voltage impressed on the plates 42 to 45 is synchronized with the frequency of the voltage across the sweep coils 83, 85.

The sweep coils 63 and 65 are each supported on annular rings which are rotatably supported to encircle the cathode ray tube in any well known manner of constructing cathode ray tube sweep coils. Each annular ring includes a ring gear, as 68, 61, actuata-ble by a power motor, as 88, 69 respectively, by corresponding pinion gears 18, 1|. A practical manner ofmaking connections to the sweep coils is shown in Fig. 4 in which slip rings 12, 13 are mounted on the rotatable annular rings and in operative4 relation with corresponding brushes 14 and 15.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 2, two loop antennas 8l and 82 I are rotatively mounted on a mobile vehicle, as an airplane or ship, and have antenna slip ring and brush pickoiI means 83, 84 respectively, connected to corresponding radio receivers 85, 86. The receivers each control a power motor 81, 88, respectively, that maintain the corresponding antenna in a minimum or null signal position through the corresponding gears 89, 88 shafts 9|, 92. Insulatingly secured to each of the shafts 9| and 92 is a rotor coilv 93, 94 of a synchro transmitter each of which is connected to an alternating current source, as for example 400 cycles. In flux relation with each of these transmitter rotor coils are synchro transmitter stator windings 95, 98 which are fixed with respect to the mobile vehicle. 'I'he above described device constitutes automatic radio compass means wherein in the usual practice the synchro transmitter stator windings are in circuit with stator windings of .instrument synchro repeaters. In the present assassisented by the broken lines' 99, |00. respectively. The two ring gears I9 and |00 are operatively connected to rotate' simultaneously in the same direction by a shaft having two similar pinion gears |02 and |03 on opposite ends thereof, the ring gear 99 engaging the pinion gear |02 tangential to the pinion gear radius (|02) most removed while the ring gear |00 meshes with the pinion gear |03 tangent with the pinion gear radius (|03) nearest the observer. The shaft |0| is driven by a reversible power motor |04 which may be a direct drive, gear drive, chain and 4sprocket drive, etc., as desirable, as long as the drive is positive and without lash. 'I'he power motor |04 is under the control of current induced in the rotor winding |05 of a flux gate valve compass repeater receiver.

|06 of the iiux gate valve compass is shown since the construction and operation of the transmitter, in which the earths magnetism is superimposed on a substantially high frequency multiphase field in the stator windings of the transmitter, are known but immaterial to a clear understanding of the present invention. Upon any change in the heading of the mobile vehicle, the resultant field in the flux gate receiver stator windings |06 will induce ,a current iow in the flux gate receiver rotor winding |05 which is ampliiied sufliciently by an amplifier |01 to cause rotation of the power motor |04 in a direction to maintain the stator windings 91 and 98 in a constant predetermined position with respect to magnetic north. The flux gate receiver rotor winding |05 is rotatably mounted with respect to the liux gate receiver stator winding |06 and is connected by a shaft and gearing |08, |05, ||0 to the shaft |0| in order to elect a followup for 'the flux gate receiver rotor winding |05. This followup may be effected through a cable, chain and sprocket, or the like, where desirable.

Associated in flux relation with the synchro receiver stator winding 91 is a synchro receiver winding ||2 which is connected through an ampliiler H3 to the motor 68. The motor 69 has the pinion gear 'l0 thereon that meshes with the ring gear 66 to control sweep coil 63. A mechanical connection between the motor or ring gear and the synchro motor rotor winding ||2 is effected in any desirable well known manner, as by gearing, cable, etc., as represented bythe broken lines H5, to provide a follow-up for the rotor winding. In the same manner, the synchro receiver rotor winding ||6 is connected through an amplifier to the motor 69 which rotates the ring gear 6l, and consequently the sweep coil 65, through the pinion gear 1|, and a follow-up is effected mechanically to the rotor winding ||6 as represented by the broken lines H0.

In operation, the pilot of the mobile vehicle places a transparent map of the area over which or through which he is about to navigate. For the purpose of illustration, let it be assumed that the device is in an aircraft unit and the map 40 is the area over which the pilot expects to fly. The radio transmitter positions are known as marked 5| and 52 on the map 48. The cathode ray tube circuit is turned on by switch Si (the sweep coll circuit remaining off by the open switch Sz) and the movable contacts 35-38 adjusted until the two spots occur at the points on the map marked I5| and 52. The two receivers 85 and 86, the sweep coils, and the flux gate valve compass are then turned on. The ilux gate valve receiver will control the motor |04 to actuate synchro receiver stator windings 01 and 98 to a predetermined position with respect to magnetic north which will thereafter be maintained regardless of changes in direction of the aircraft. At the same time. receivers 85 and 86 are tuned to respective transmitters, as for example the receiver 85 is tuned to the transmitter 5| and the receiver 06 is tuned to the transmitter 52 which transmitters are operating at different frequencies. The signals received will be operative through the receiver-motor network of each receiver system to rotate the respective antenna to the minimum signal position. The synchro transmitter rotor windings 93 and 94 will produce a magnetic eld in the synchro Y transmitter statorV windings 95 and 96 which Only the stator windings magnetic field is also produced in the synchro receiver rotor windings ||2 and H6. The current flow in these rotor windings are amplified to operate power motors 68 and 59, the signal from the radio transmitter station 5| being operatlve to eect operation of the power motor 68 and the signal from the radio transmitter station 52 being operative to eect actuation of the power motor-69. These power motors will rotate the sweep coils 63 and 65, respectively, and also the synchro receiver windings ||2 and H6, respectively, will be rotated with respect to their stator windings until a null signal position is reached.

Sweep coils 63 and 65, having alternating currents passing therethrough and these currents being 180 degrees out of phase and being synchronized, respectively, with the deecting voitages on the corresponding deiiecting plates, cause two distinct traces to be formed on the scope face as shown by A, B in Fig. 3, the intersection of which indicates the position of the mobile vehicle, as the aircraft given in the example.

Whenever the aircraft flies off of the map 4E, this map may be replaced and the movable contacts 35-38 of the potentiometers 'Z8-3| adjusted for two new known radio transmitter stations on the new map and the course of the aircraft watched on the scope face as before. It is only necessary to interrupt the circuit to the sweep coils to position the two spots on the two new known transmitter stations.

From the foregoing, it may be seen and understood that the position indicating device provides a very accurate means of determining the position and course of a mobile vehicle in that errors due to mechanical friction and mechanical inertia are reduced to a minimum. Although I have shown and described a specic embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and applications thereof, as well as changes in detail of construction, may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention and I desire to be understood that this invention is not limited to any specific form or arrangement of parts or elements except as such limitations are specified in the claims.

I claim:

1. A radio ground position indicating device comprising a cathode ray tube having a circuit means for successively positioning the ray of said tube to a plurality of positions on the fluorescent screen of said cathode ray tube whereby a plurality of spots are formed on. said screen indicative of radio transmitter positions, rotatable sweep coils corresponding in number to said spots encircling said cathode ray tube to transversely 7 deect said ray to 'produce a plurality of linear traces on said fluorescent screen, 'means for energizing each said sweep coil concurrently with the formation of a corresponding spot, and radio receiver means adapted to be tuned to the transmitters of said transmitter positions the outputs of which are connected to electro-mechanical transmission means to control said electro-mechanical transmission means in accordance with received signals, said electro-mechanical transmission means being mechanically related to said sweep coils to control the rotation o f said sweep coils about said cathode ray tube for producing inter secting traces the origins ofl which are at the points indicative of radio transmitter positions and the intersection of which is the position of the indicating device with respect to the radio transmitter positions. c

' 2. A radio ground position indicating device as set forth in claim 1 wherein a transparent map is detachably held over said fluorescent screen with the positions of said radio transmitters marked `such that the spots are adjustably positioned at the marked positions of said radio transmitting stations.

3. A radio ground position indicating device as set forth in claim 2 wherein a compass means'1 responsive to the earths magnetism is included in the electro-mechanical transmission means to compensate for relative directional changes of said radio receivermeans with respect to magnetic north.

4. A radio ground position indicating device comprising a pair of rotatable antenna and receiver means each adapted to be tuned to a separate frequency radio transmitter, a synchro transmitter mechanically connected to each rotatable antenna, a synchro receiver electrically connected to each of said synchro transmitters, a cathode ray tube and an associated circuit adapted to alternately position the ray to two adjustable positions whereby two adjustable spots are formed on said cathode ray tube screen, two sweep coils encircling the cathode ray tube for transversely defiecting said ray, means for energizing said 4 whereby a radio signal received in each radio receiver means is operative to position the corresponding sweep coil to cause intersecting traces to be shown on the cathode ray tube face indicating the position of the indicating device with re-,. spect to the radio transmitters producing the` received radio signals.

5. A radio ground position indicating device comprising a cathode ray tube circuit adapted to alternately position the ray to adjustable positions whereby two adjustable spots are formedI o n a mapped fluorescent screen of a cathode rayv tube, two rotatably adjustable sweep coils en circling said cathode ray tube-energizable cncurrently with the formation of each spot forl transversely deiiecting said spots to form two traces on said mapped iiuorescent screen', power means for separately rotatably adjusting said sweep coils, and radio receiver means operative to control electro-mechanical power transmission means connected with each said power means to receive signals of different frequencies for actuating said sweep coils in accordance with the corresponding signals received by said receivers whereby one trace passes through the present antennas each connected te a synchro of oneof the signals and the other' trace passes' through the present position of the indicating` device and the source of the other received signal.

6. A radio ground position indicating device as s et forth in claim 5wherein a compass means responsive to the earths magnetism is in the electro-mechanical power transmission means connection between said radio receiver means and said power means to produce a common compensation of directional changes of both said radio receiver means with respect to magnetic north.

7. A radio position indicating device comprising a cathode ray tube circuit including a cathode ray tube having two pairs of deilecting plates therein and a fluorescent screen, means for generating two sets of deflecting voltages, means for alternately impressing said sets of deilecting voltages on said pairs of plates whereby the ray alternately assumes two positions on said screen, means for independently adjusting the deflecting voltages in said sets whereby the positions of the two spots on said screen formed by the ray may be adjusted to corresponding transmitter positions, two rotatably mounted sweep coils encircling said cathode ray tube corresponding to said two sets of deecting voltages, means for energizing each of said sweep coils concurrently with the application of its corresponding set of deecting voltages to said deiiecting plates whereby traces are produced on said screen having origins at said spots, a pair of rotatable loop antennas each having receiver means constructed and arranged to maintain the corresponding loop antenna in a minimum signal position, said loop transmitter means, and a synchro receiver means electrically connected to each of said transmitter means, each synchro receiver having a rotor winding in circuit with a power means for transforming electrical power into mechanical power, one each of said power means being mechanically connected to one each -of said rotatably mounted sweep coils for imparting rotary motion thereto whereby tuning each of said two receiver means to two respective stations. of different frequencies positions said traces on said uoresc'ent screen indicating the direction of each source of transmitted radio signal, the intersection of said traces being the A 'position' of said indicating device with respect to said stations.

8. A radio position indicating device as set forth in claim '7 wherein a transparent map indicating the positions of two known radio transmitters is removably held over the fluorescent screen of said cathode ray tube and said deflecting voltages of said deilecting plates adjusted to position said spots on said map at points indicative of said radio transmitters.

9. A radio position indicating device as set forth in claim 8 wherein a 'ux gate compass receiver means is in operative mechanical relation with said synchro receivers for-maintaining said synchro receivers in a constant directional position with respect to magnetic north.

10. A radio ground position and course indicating device for mobile vehicles comprising an automatic radio compass including two radio receivers on a mobile vehicle each having synchro transmitter-receivers, stator windings in said synchro receivers mechanically connected to rotate together with respect to the mobile vehicle,

a compass responsive to the earths magnetism operative to rotate said synchro receiver stator windings proportional to changes in direction of l said mobile vehicle with respect tc magnetic position of the indicating device and the source 7l north," a" synchro receiver rotor winding rotatable with respect to each said synchro receiver stator winding and being in electrical circuit with a power motor, a cathode ray tube circuit including means for adjustably positioning two alternately appearing spots on a fluorescent screen of a cathode ray tube, two rotatable sweep coils encircling said cathode ray tube and alternately energizable in synchronism with said alternately appearing spots to magnetically inuence said spots to form traces, one each of said power motors mechanically connected to each sweep coil, and a transparent map removably attached over the cathode ray tube iluorescent screen with marked radio trans- Vmitters whereby when said spots are positioned at the radio transmitter marks and the automatic radio compass placed in operation two intersecting traces will be produced on said cathode ray tube uorescent screen which intersection indicates the position of the indicating device relative to the transmitters.

11. A radio ground position and course indicating device for mobile vehicles comprising two rotatable loop antennas each having a radio signal receiver of the type to transform a received signal into mechanical power to rotate said correspending loop antenna to minimum signal position, each said loop antenna carrying an alternating current energizable synchro transmitter rotor winding that is in ux relation to a synchro transmitter stator winding in xed relation with the mobile vehicle, each synchro transmitter stator winding being connected in parallel with a synchro receiver stator winding rotatably mounted with respect to the mobile vehicle, both said synchro receiver stator windings being mechanically connected to rotate in the same direction and at the same angle, a ux gate compass receiver a power motor constructed and arranged to rotate said synchro receiver stator windings proportional to the directional change of the mobile vehicle with respect to magnetic y north, said power motor being under the control of said ilux gate compass receiver, a synchro receiver rotor winding in ilux relation with each of said synchro receiver stator windings and rotatable with respect thereto, the induced current in said synchro receiver rotor windings operative to actuate electrical power means, and a cathode ray tube circuit adaptable to adjustably produce two alternately appearing spots at desirable points on the fluorescent screen of said cathode ray tube and including two sweep coils encircling the tube which are energizable alternately in synchronism with said alternately appearing spots to elect two traces on said uorescent lrscreen, saidwelectric power means of eachY said synchro receiver being operative to rotate one each of said sweep coils and the corresponding receiver rotor winding with respect to its synchro receiver stator windings to provide a follow up whereby the two traces, upon being adjusted to originate at points on said iiuorescent screen illustrative of radio signal transmitters, will intersect indicating the position of the indicator device with respect to the radio signal transmitters.

12. A radio position and course indicating device as set forth in claim 11 wherein a transparent map is removably attached to said fluorescent screen marking the position of two radio signal transmitters from which signals are received and at which position said traces originate,

JAMES L. ANAST.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,183,634 Zworykin Dec. 19, 1939 2,284,812 Gage June 2, 1942 2,299,083 Elm Oct. 20, 1942 

